Transmitting method and transmitting device, receiving method and receiving device, and transfer method and transfer system

ABSTRACT

Data broadcast data, which is broadcast in data broadcasts, is constructed by disposing, for example, EMD (Electric Music Distribution) links required to acquire song data as actual broadcast data, which is broadcast in actual broadcasts by a transmitting device, the actual broadcast data is transmitted, and the data broadcast data wherein the EMD links for the song data in the actual broadcasts are disposed, is transmitted periodically during the transmission of the actual broadcast data. The actual broadcast data and the data broadcast data are received by a user terminal, and the EMD links disposed in the data broadcast data are stored whenever there is an input of an operation to attach a “bookmark”. Thus, audio data such as songs in programs broadcast can easily be acquired by radio.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/407,550, filed Sep.28, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,372,915 the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference. application Ser. No. 09/407,550 claimsthe benefit of Japanese Application No. 10-276766, filed on Sep. 30,1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a transmitting method and transmitting device,receiving method and receiving device, and transfer method and transfersystem. In particular, it relates to a transmitting method andtransmitting device, receiving method and receiving device, and transfermethod and transfer system which facilitate the acquisition of audiodata such as songs broadcast in the form of programs such as radioprograms or television programs, or video data such as films.

2. Description of the Related Art

Programs such as radio broadcasts are received by a radio receiver, forexample.

However in radio broadcasting, if a program is a program of songs, theprogram is broadcast (transmitted) as a broadcast signal. Herein,broadcast signals may include the voice of an announcer (disc jockey),sound effects or jingles, and the song itself may therefore be recordedon a commercial CD (compact disc) or the like. Data which does notcomprise any sounds other than those of the songs (referred to hereafterfor convenience as full song data) may be said to be related to thebroadcast signal, and may therefore be described as related data.

A user may hear a song in a radio broadcast (including various othersounds apart from the song such as for example an announcer's voice(referred to hereafter for convenience as a broadcast song)), and if helikes it, he may wish to acquire it. In such a case, he may go to astore to purchase the CD on which the song (full song data) is recorded.

However, if the user desires to purchase a CD on which a song he likesis recorded (stored), he must know the title and the name of the singer,etc., and if the song is a new song, the user often does not know thetitle. Also in a radio broadcast, the announcer does mention the song'stitle and the singer's name, but in the case of such a verbalintroduction the user may miss the information or hear it incorrectly.

In “visual” radio broadcasting which recently started, additionalinformation broadcast in the form of data is included in the broadcastsignal in addition to the broadcast signal which constitutes the actualprogram (referred to hereafter as “actual broadcast”). The additionalinformation transmitted in the form of data contains the song title andthe singer's name, so the user can confirm the song title and singer'sname by looking at this additional information.

However, if the user overlooks it or does not make a note of it, theuser may no longer be able to identify the relation between theadditional information transmitted in visual broadcasting to thebroadcast itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to solve the above problems,and to provide a way of easily acquiring for example audio data such assongs which were broadcast by radio or television, or video data such asfilms.

The transmitting method according to this invention comprises aconstructing step which constructs additional information in whichacquiring information necessary to acquire related data related to abroadcast signal is disposed, and a transmitting step which transmitsthe broadcast signal, and transmits the additional information, in whichthe acquiring information concerning the related data related to thisbroadcast signal is disposed, on plural occasions during thetransmission of the broadcast signal.

The transmitting device according to this invention comprises aconstructing means which constructs additional information in whichacquiring information necessary to acquire related data related to abroadcast signal is disposed, and a transmitting means which transmitsthe broadcast signal and transmits the additional information, in whichthe acquiring information concerning the related data related to thisbroadcast signal is disposed, on plural occasions during thetransmission of the broadcast signal.

The receiving method according to this invention comprises a receivingstep which receives the broadcast signal and additional information inwhich acquiring information necessary to acquire related data related tothis broadcast signal is disposed, and an acquiring information storingstep which stores the acquiring information disposed in the additionalinformation when there is a predetermined input.

The receiving device according to this invention comprises a receivingmeans which receives the broadcast signal and additional information inwhich acquiring information necessary to acquire related data related tothis broadcast signal is disposed, and an acquiring information storingstep which stores the acquiring information disposed in the additionalinformation when there is a predetermined input.

In the transfer method according to this invention, the transmittingdevice comprises a constructing step which constructs the additionalinformation in which acquiring information necessary to acquire relateddata related to the broadcast signal is disposed, and a transmittingstep which transmits the broadcast signal, and transmits the additionalinformation, in which the acquiring information concerning said relateddata related to this broadcast signal is disposed, on plural occasionsduring the transmission of the broadcast signal, and the receivingdevice comprises a receiving step which receives the broadcast signaland the additional information, and an acquiring information storingstep which stores the acquiring information disposed in the additionalinformation when there is a predetermined input.

In the transfer system according to this invention, the transmittingdevice comprises a constructing means which constructs the additionalinformation in which acquiring information necessary to acquire relateddata related to the broadcast signal is disposed, and a transmittingmeans which transmits the broadcast signal, and transmits the additionalinformation, in which the acquiring information concerning the relateddata related to this broadcast signal is disposed, on plural occasionsduring the transmission of the broadcast signal, and the receivingdevice comprises a receiving means which receives the broadcast signaland additional information, and an acquiring information storing meanswhich stores the acquiring information disposed in the additionalinformation when there is a predetermined input.

In the transmitting method according to this invention, additionalinformation is constructed in which acquiring information necessary toacquire related data related to the broadcast signal is disposed, thebroadcast signal is transmitted, and the additional information in whichthe acquiring information concerning the related data related to thisbroadcast signal is disposed, is transmitted on plural occasions duringthe transmission of the broadcast signal.

In the transmitting device according to this invention, the constructingmeans constructs additional information in which acquiring informationnecessary to acquire related data related to the broadcast signal isdisposed, the transmitting means transmits the broadcast signal, andtransmits the additional information, in which the acquiring informationconcerning the related data related to this broadcast signal isdisposed, on plural occasions during the transmission of the broadcastsignal.

In the receiving method according to this invention, the broadcastsignal and additional information in which acquiring informationnecessary to acquire related data related to this broadcast signal isdisposed, are received, and the acquiring information disposed in theadditional information is stored when there is a predetermined input.

In the receiving device according to this invention, the receiving meansreceives the broadcast signal and additional information in whichacquiring information necessary to acquire related data related to thisbroadcast signal is disposed, and the acquiring information storingmeans stores the acquiring information disposed in the additionalinformation when there is a predetermined input.

In the transfer method according to this invention, additionalinformation is constructed in which acquiring information necessary toacquire related data related to the broadcast signal is disposed, thebroadcast signal is transmitted, the additional information in which theacquiring information concerning the related data related to thisbroadcast signal is disposed is transmitted on plural occasions duringthe transmission of the broadcast signal, the broadcast signal andadditional information are received, and the acquiring informationdisposed in the additional information is stored when there is apredetermined input.

In the transfer system according to this invention, the constructingmeans constructs the additional information in which acquiringinformation necessary to acquire related data related to the broadcastsignal is disposed, the transmitting means transmits the broadcastsignal and transmits the additional information, in which the acquiringinformation concerning said related data related to this broadcastsignal is disposed, on plural occasions during the transmission of thebroadcast signal, the receiving means receives the broadcast signal andadditional information, and the acquiring information storing meansstores the acquiring information disposed in the additional informationwhen there is a predetermined input.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a typical construction of oneembodiment of a bookmark radio system applying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a transfer format for actual broadcast dataand data broadcast data.

FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a data format for actual broadcast data anddata broadcast data.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a transmitting device 1in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a user terminal 3 inFIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of an EMD server 5 in FIG.1.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a first example of the construction ofa signal processing unit 13 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is flowchart for describing the processing of a synchronizingcircuit 55 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a first example of the construction ofa signal processing unit 27 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for describing the processing of the signalprocessing unit 27 in FIG. 9.

FIGS. 11A to 11D are a figure for describing a method of providing fullsong data using actual broadcast data.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a second example of the constructionof the signal processing unit 13 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a second example of the constructionof the signal processing unit 27 in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 14A to 14E are a figure for describing a method of providing fullsong data using actual broadcast data.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a third example of the constructionof the signal processing unit 13 in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 16A to 16C are a figure for describing a method of providing fullsong data using actual broadcast data.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a fourth example of the constructionof the signal processing unit 13 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 18 is a figure showing the transmitting contents of an actualbroadcast and the transmitting contents of a data broadcast.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart for describing the processing of thesynchronizing circuit 55 in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, some preferred embodiments of this invention will bedescribed, but first, to clarify the correspondence between the variousmeans within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by theappended claims and embodiments, the features of this invention will bediscussed by adding the corresponding embodiment (as an example) inbrackets after each means.

The transmitting device is a transmitting device for transmitting apredetermined broadcast signal together with predetermined additionalinformation, this device comprising a constructing means (for example, asynchronizing circuit 55 and MUX 58 shown in FIG. 7) which constructsthe additional information in which acquiring information necessary toacquire related data related to the broadcast signal is disposed, and atransmitting means (for example, the synchronizing circuit 55 shown inFIG. 7) which transmits the broadcast signal, and transmits theadditional information, in which the acquiring information concerningthe related data related to this broadcast signal is disposed, on pluraloccasions during the transmission of the broadcast signal.

The transmitting device further comprises an error detection/correctionmeans (for example, an ECC circuit 15 shown in FIG. 4) which performserror detection/correction on the additional information.

The transmitting device further comprises a splitting means (forexample, the data dividing unit 351 shown in FIG. 17) which splits therelated data into a first component and a second component, wherein thetransmitting means transmits the first component as the broadcastsignal.

The receiving device is a receiving device which receives thepredetermined broadcast signal together with predetermined additionalinformation in which acquiring information necessary to acquire therelated data related to this broadcast signal is disposed, and comprisesa receiving means (for example, a digital radio tuner 22 shown in FIG.5) which receives the broadcast signal and additional information, andan acquiring information storage means (for example, a storage 64) whichstores the acquiring information disposed in the additional informationwhen there is a predetermined input.

The receiving device further comprises an error detection/correctionmeans (for example, an ECC circuit 26 shown in FIG. 5) which performserror detection/correction on the additional information.

The receiving device further comprises a temporary storage means (forexample, a memory 161 shown in FIG. 13) which temporarily stores thebroadcast signal received by the receiving means.

The receiving device further comprises a temporary storage means (forexample, the RAM (Random Access Memory) shown in FIG. 5) whichtemporarily stores the additional information received by the receivingmeans.

The receiving device further comprises an outputting means (for example,a speaker 29 or display device 30 shown in FIG. 5) which outputs theacquiring information.

The receiving device further comprises an outputting means (for example,the speaker 29 or display device 30 shown in FIG. 5) which outputsinformation useful for recognizing the content of the related data.

The receiving device further comprises a related data storing means (forexample, a storage 64 shown in FIG. 9) which stores the related datadisposed in the additional information when there is a predeterminedinput.

The receiving device further comprises an acquiring means (for example,a download processor 65 shown in FIG. 9) which acquires a decoding keyfor decoding the related data based on the acquiring information.

The receiving device further comprises a decoding means (for example, adecoder 68 shown in FIG. 9) which decodes the related data based on thedecoding key.

The receiving device further comprises an acquiring means (for example,the download processor 65) which acquires the related data stored in adatabase based on the acquiring information when the related data isstored in a predetermined database.

The receiving device further comprises a decoding means (for example,the decoder 68 shown in FIG. 9) which decodes the related data based onthe decoding key.

The receiving device further comprises an acquiring means (for example,the download processor 65 shown in FIG. 13) which acquires the decodingkey for decoding a second signal based on the acquiring information.

The receiving device further comprises a decoding means (for example,the decoder 68) which decodes the second signal based on the decodingkey.

The receiving device further comprises a generating means (for example,a computing unit 162 shown in FIG. 13 which generates the related databased on the broadcast signal and the second signal.

The receiving device further comprises an acquiring means (for example,the download processor 65 shown in FIG. 13) which acquires a decodingkey for decoding a first image or sound or a second image or sound of anoverlapping part based on the acquiring information.

The receiving device further comprises a decoding means (for example,the decoder 68 shown in FIG. 13) for decoding the first image or soundor the second image or sound of the overlapping part based on thedecoding key.

The receiving device further comprises a generating means (for example,the computing unit 162 shown in FIG. 13) for generating the related datausing the broadcast signal, and the first image or sound or the secondimage or sound of the overlapping part.

The receiving device further comprises an acquiring means (for example,the download processor 65 shown in FIG. 13) which acquires a decodingkey for decoding the second component based on the acquiringinformation.

The receiving device further comprises a decoding means (for example,the decoder 68 shown in FIG. 13) for decoding the second component basedon the decoding key.

The receiving device further comprises a generating means (for example,the computing unit 162 shown in FIG. 13) which generates the relateddata using the broadcast signal and the second signal.

The transfer system is a transfer system comprising a transmittingdevice for transmitting a predetermined broadcast signal together withpredetermined additional information, and a receiving device forreceiving the predetermined broadcast signal together with thepredetermined additional information, wherein the transmitting devicecomprises: constructing means (for example, the synchronizing circuit 55and MUX 58 shown in FIG. 7) which constructs the additional informationin which acquiring information necessary to acquire related data relatedto the broadcast signal is disposed, and transmitting means (forexample, the synchronizing circuit 55 shown in FIG. 7) which transmitsthe broadcast signal, and transmits the additional information, in whichthe acquiring information concerning the related data related to thisbroadcast signal is disposed, on plural occasions during thetransmission of the broadcast signal, and the receiving devicecomprises: receiving means (for example, the digital radio tuner 22shown in FIG. 5) which receives the broadcast signal and additionalinformation, and an acquiring information storing means (for example,the storage 64 shown in FIG. 9) which stores the acquiring informationdisposed in the additional information when there is a predeterminedinput.

It will however be understood that this description is in no way limitedto the various means stated above.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a bookmark radio (BMR) system (the termsystem means a logical collection of units) which applies thisinvention, wherein the component devices may or may not be in the samecabinet.

The transmitting device 1 functions as a digital radio broadcastingstation, which performs digital radio broadcasts via, for example, aground wave which is a transmitting medium 2.

The digital radio broadcasts performed by the transmitting device 1comprises an actual broadcast and a data broadcast. The data in theactual broadcast (referred to hereafter for convenience as actualbroadcast data) comprises song data (song data for broadcasting)generally broadcast in the form of a program, and data in a sponsor'sadvertisements (“commercials”).

The data in the data broadcast (referred to hereafter for convenience asdata broadcast data) comprises data in sample sounds or jacket photos,text data, EMD (Electric Music Distribution) links, compressed encodeddata, and still picture coupons, etc. This actual broadcast data anddata broadcast data are received by the user terminal 3.

The user terminal 3 may for example be a portable or suspension type ofradio receiver, or a car radio receiver (car audio device), etc. Theactual broadcast data from the transmitting device 1 are received, andoutput as a sound. The data broadcast data are also received by the userterminal 3, and are output as sound or displayed if necessary.

Specifically, the data broadcast data comprises for example thebeginnings or theme tunes of the songs broadcast in the actual broadcastdata, which are offered to the user as samples. The data broadcastingdata further comprises for example a jacket photo of a CD on which thesongs broadcast in the actual broadcast data are recorded, a photo ofthe singer of the songs (artiste's photo), and text data including songtitles, the singer's name, and name of the record company (producingcompany).

In the data broadcast data, the full song data corresponding to the songdata for broadcasting are compressed, and this data also comprisescompressed encoded data.

The data broadcast data are received by the user terminal 3, and thejacket photo, song titles, singer's name, etc. are displayed or outputas sample sounds, etc., depending on a user operation.

If the user hears broadcast song data in the actual broadcast which helikes, he operates the user terminal 3 to insert a “bookmark” (likeputting a bookmark in a book). The user terminal 3 is also operated torequest a decoding key to decode compressed encoded data when full songdata is desired after hearing a sample sound during or after listeningto broadcast song data. The user terminal 3 places a request for adecoding key with an EMD server 5 of an EMD service operator who managesand distributes full song data.

Specifically, the EMD link in the data broadcast data comprises the IP(Internet Protocol) address and the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) ofthe EMD server 5 which are used for accessing the location which offersthe full song data. The user terminal 3 accesses the EMD server 5 viathe Internet 4 based on this EMD link, and requests a decoding key todecode the compressed encoded data.

When the EMD server 5 receives a request for a decoding key from theuser terminal 3, it performs the necessary accounting, and thentransmits the decoding key to the user terminal 3 via the Internet 4.The user terminal 3 receives the decoding key from the EMD server 5, anddecodes the compressed encoded data to full song data (which had beencompressed) using the decoding key. In this way, the user can acquirethe full song data.

The EMD server 5, apart from managing the full song data and providingthe decoding key to the user terminal 3 as stated hereabove, alsoprovides song data to be transmitted as actual broadcast data orcompressed and encoded to the transmitting station (transmitting device1). The EMD server 5 also performs accounting for collecting the cost ofproviding the decoding key (and ultimately, full song data). Due to thisaccounting, the purchase price of the full song data is later deductedfrom the user's bank account or credit company, or the invoicing may beperformed using a prepaid card.

It may occur that, due to the transmitting capacity of the transmittingmedium 2, all the aforementioned data cannot be included in the databroadcast data. In this case, it is not included in the data for databroadcasting. When the compressed encoded data is not included in thedata broadcast data, the user terminal 3 requests the decoding key andthe compressed encoded data to be decoded by the decoding key from theEMD server. The EMD server 5 then transmits the decoding key andcompressed encoded data to the user terminal 3.

The data broadcast data may contain a still picture coupon which istreated as a “coupon”. This still picture coupon may for example berequested from the user terminal 3 when the decoding key is requested,and transmitted to the EMD server 5 with the request. In the EMD server5, when a still picture coupon is received with a request for a decodingkey, a discount is given on the price when accounting is performed.

Although accounting was performed by the EMD server 5 in theaforementioned case, an accounting server 6 which performs onlyaccounting may be provided as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1, andaccounting performed by the accounting server 6.

If the data broadcast data does not contain compressed encoded data (oreven if it does), a transfer device which transfers the compressedencoded data and decoding key, may be installed in a shop or otherlocation, for example, a record store, a video shop, a convenience storeor a railway station shop. In this case, if the user goes to thelocation where the transmitting unit is installed, he can acquire thecompressed, encoded data and decoding key in exchange for money.

The dealer (for example, the shop name and branch name, etc.) whichsells the CD on which the songs broadcast in the actual broadcast wererecorded can be listed. In this case, the EMD link can be displayed(output) by the user terminal 3, so the user can recognize the dealerwhich sells the CD on which the song he wants is recorded, and go topurchase the CD (access the dealer's shop).

Next, FIG. 2 shows the transfer format of the actual broadcast data anddata broadcast data transmitted by the transmitting device 1 in FIG. 1.Herein, in Japan, it is expected that in digital radio broadcasting,about 400 kbps (kilobit per second) will be taken as one segment, andthat the audio compression used will be MPEG (Moving Picture ExpertsGroup) AAC (Advanced Audio Coding). FIG. 2 shows the transfer format ifthis type of digital radio broadcasting is employed.

In FIG. 2, the actual broadcast data is MPEG AAC, and is compressed intoand transmitted as an approximately 128 kbps to 144 kbps stereo signal.Moreover, in the data broadcast data, the compressed encoded data isobtained by compressing full song data by ATRAC (Adaptive TransformAcoustic Coding) 2, and then encoded by a predetermined system. Thetransfer rate is of the order of 250 kbps.

Next, FIG. 3 shows the data format of this actual broadcast data anddata broadcast data.

This actual broadcast data and data broadcast data are in predeterminedframe units, and each frame is transmitted with time synchronization.

The frames of this actual broadcast data or data broadcast data will bereferred to hereafter for convenience as music frames or data frames.

If the time from the start of transmission to the end of transmission ofa certain song is one program, in the actual broadcast data of oneprogram, the required number of music frames is disposed after a header,and an EOF (End of File) is disposed at the end. Also, in the databroadcast data of the program, there are an identical number of dataframes to that of the music frames forming the actual broadcast data,and an EOF is placed at the end. The music frames and corresponding dataframes are synchronized and transmitted simultaneously.

From the beginning, the data frames contain a sync (synchronizingsignal) used for detecting the data frame, and frame numbers areappended, for example sequentially, to each frame. In one programbroadcast, a frame cyclic bookmark part (referred to hereafter forconvenience as bookmark part) comprising data which are transmittedperiodically, a plural frame concluding part (referred to hereafter forconvenience as concluding part) comprising concluding data, basicallycomprising plural data frames grouped together, and an ECC (ErrorCorrecting Code or Error Checking Code) for error correction ordetection, are disposed in sequence.

The bookmark part comprises information necessary to acquire the fullsong data of the song broadcast by the actual broadcast (acquiringinformation). This may be for example a 60 bit ISRC (InternationalStandard Recording Code) as unique information attached to the full songdata of the songs in the actual broadcast. The bookmark part furthercomprises, for example, the name of the song (title), name of the singer(artiste's name), and name of the record company (producer) to which thesinger belongs (record company name) as recognizing information usefulto recognize the full song data of the songs broadcast in the actualbroadcast. Still further, the bookmark part comprises an EMD link asaccess information used for accessing the locations at which the fullsong data of the song broadcast by this broadcast is provided (such asthe EMD server 5 shown in FIG. 1, or the dealer who sells the CD onwhich the full song data were recorded).

The bookmark part of each of the data frames which constitute oneprogram contains identical information, therefore, and unless theprogram of this broadcast is terminated in a very short time, theinformation in the bookmark part is periodically transmitted on pluraloccasions.

The concluding part comprises, for example, the following audio data,picture data, text data and other data.

The audio data for example comprises compressed encoded data obtained bycompressing the aforementioned full song data and sample sounds. Theaudio data may also comprise jingle data, an announcer's voice,differential data to improve audio quality and overlap data, asdescribed later.

The picture data comprises for example a jacket photo on the CD on whichthe full song data were recorded, photos of the singer singing the songs(artiste's photo) and still picture coupon data, etc.

The text data comprises, for example, the song title or singer's namewhich is useful to recognize the full song data, the record company'sname, and stories and the latest information about the singer.Therefore, according to this embodiment, the bookmark part andconcluding part may both comprise the song titles and the singer's namealthough this is somewhat redundant.

Other data may be data relating to sales promotions or advertising data.

Herein, the data in the bookmark part or concluding part will bereferred to hereafter for convenience as bookmark data or data broadcastcontents, respectively.

In FIG. 3, there is one channel for data broadcasting, however twochannels may be used for data broadcasting instead. In this case, thedata in the bookmark part may be disposed in one of these channels andthe data broadcast contents in the concluding part may be disposed inthe other channel, and both channels transmitted simultaneously.

Next, FIG. 4 shows an example of the construction of the transmittingdevice 1 which constitutes the broadcasting station of FIG. 1.

The announcer's voice (DJ (disc jockey's) voice) is input into amicrophone 11. The DJ's voice is converted into an electrical audiosignal and supplied to a signal processing unit 13. Data stored in astorage 12 are also supplied to the signal processing unit 13.

Song data used in the actual broadcast (this may be full song data),compressed encoded data used for data broadcasting or jacket photos aresupplied from the EMD server 5 and stored in the storage 12. These dataare supplied to the signal processing unit 13 as necessary.

Advertisements or “commercial” sounds used in the actual broadcast arealso supplied to the signal processing unit 13.

In the signal processing unit 13, signal processing of the supplied datais carried out, and the music frames in the actual broadcast data anddata frames in the data broadcast data are thereby generated. The musicframes of the actual broadcast data and the data frames of the databroadcast data are respectively supplied to ECC circuits 14 or 15, anECC is added, and the result is supplied to a MUX (multiplexer) 16.

In the MUX 16, the actual broadcast data and data broadcast data aremultiplexed, and the multiplexed data obtained as a result are suppliedto a digital modulating circuit 17. In the digital modulating circuit17, digital modulation processing, such as for example QPSK (QuadraturePhase Shift Keying) or QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) isperformed on the multiplexed data from the MUX 16, and the modulatedsignal obtained as a result is supplied to a transmitter 18. In thetransmitter 18, amplification and other required processing is performedon the modulated signal from the digital modulating circuit 17, and theresult is transmitted as a radio wave from an antenna 19.

Next, FIG. 5 shows an example of the construction of the user terminal 3of FIG. 1.

The aforementioned radio wave transmitted from the transmitting device 1is received by an antenna 21, and the received signal is supplied to adigital radio tuner 22. The digital radio tuner 22 receives the signalfrom the antenna 21, detects a signal in a predetermined channelaccording to the control of a reception control unit 22A, and suppliesthe result to a digital demodulating circuit 23. The digitaldemodulating circuit 23 performs digital demodulation on the output ofthe digital radio tuner 22, and the multiplexed data obtained as aresult are output to a DMUX (demultiplexer) 24.

The demultiplexer 24 separates the multiplexed data from the digitaldemodulating circuit 23 into actual broadcast data and data broadcastdata. These actual broadcast data or data broadcast data arerespectively supplied to the ECC circuits 25 or 26. The ECC circuits 25or 26 perform error detection or correction on the actual broadcast dataor data broadcast data, and supply the result to a signal processingunit 27.

The ECC circuit 26 processes the data broadcast data from the DMUX 24after temporarily storing it in a RAM 26. The RAM 26A has a storagecapacity which can store data of, for example, at least one data frame(FIG. 3). Whenever a new data frame is received from the DMUX 24, theoldest data frame is erased (the oldest data frame is updated by the newdata frame).

For example, when the user is carrying the user terminal 3, or when theuser terminal 3 is mounted in an automobile, reception of the radio wavefrom the transmitting device 1 may be temporarily interrupted in atunnel, etc. Even in such a case, in the user terminal 3, the RAM 26Astores the data broadcast data temporarily so that the data in thebookmark part of a data frame can be utilized. Further, as errordetection or correction is performed on the data in the bookmark part ofthe data frame even in such a case, error-free data may be used.

The question of whether or not reception of the radio wave from thetransmitting device 1 has been temporarily interrupted may be determinedby, for example, determining whether or not the frame numbers (FIG. 3)of data frames are continuous or whether or not an EOF was received, oralternatively it may be based on the level of the radio wave.

Also, in the aforementioned case, error detection or correction wasperformed by the ECC circuit 26 after temporarily storing the databroadcast data from the DMUX 24 in the RAM 26A, but the data broadcastdata may be temporarily stored in the RAM 26A after error detection orcorrection is performed by the ECC circuit 26.

In the signal processing unit 27, predetermined signal processing isperformed on the actual broadcast data or data broadcast data from theECC circuits 25 or 26. The actual broadcast data are then supplied to aD/A (Digital/Analog) converter 28, and after D/A conversion, the resultis supplied and output to a speaker 29.

Of the data broadcast data, data which can be output as sound are alsooutput from the speaker 29 as necessary in the same way as actualbroadcast data.

Moreover, of the data broadcast data, data which can be displayed are assupplied as necessary to the display device 30.

In predetermined cases, the control unit 31 is operated by the user. Anoperating signal corresponding to the operation of the control unit 31is supplied to the signal processing unit 27, and the signal processingunit 27 performs predetermined processing corresponding to thisoperation signal. That is, when the control unit 31 is operated forexample to request a decoding key, the signal processing unit 27controls a modem 32 so as to establish a link to the EMD server 5 viathe Internet 4, and request the decoding key. The signal processing unit27 then receives the decoding key transmitted from the EMD server 5 viathe modem 32 in accordance with the request.

Next, FIG. 6 shows an example of the construction of the EMD server 5 ofFIG. 1.

A database 41 stores the full song data for the songs which the EMDservice operator manages or ISRC, jacket photo data, artiste photo data,compressed encoded data for the full song data and the decoding key usedto decode the data, and data used for the actual broadcast and databroadcast are supplied to the transmitting device 1 of the broadcastingstation.

A modem 43 performs communication control via the Internet 4, and when arequest for a decoding key is received from the user terminal 3, it issupplied to a controller 42. When the controller 42 receives the requestfor a decoding key, it performs accounting by controlling the accountingunit 44. The controller 42 also reads the requested decoding key fromthe database 41, and transmits it to the modem 43. If the controller 42receives a request for compressed encoded data together with the requestfor a decoding key, this compressed encoded data is also read from thedatabase 41 and transmitted to the modem 43.

Next, FIG. 7 shows an example of the construction of the signalprocessing unit 13 in the transmitting device 1 of FIG. 4.

The DJ's voice from the microphone 11 (FIG. 4) is supplied to anamplifier 51. The amplifier 51 amplifies the audio signal and suppliesit to an A/D (Analog/Digital) converter 52. The A/D converter 52performs A/D conversion on the analog voice signal from the amplifier 51to convert it to digital audio data, and this is supplied to a mixer 53.In addition to the DJ's voice, data such as songs in the actualbroadcast data, advertisements and jingles (herein, digital data), arealso supplied to the mixer 53. The mixer 53 mixes these sounds so as toconstruct the actual broadcast data, and this is supplied to a datacompression unit 54. The data compression unit 54 compresses the outputof the mixer 53, for example by the MPEG scheme, and supplies the resultto a synchronizing circuit 55.

In addition to actual broadcast data from the data compression unit 54,bookmark data and the output of the MUX 58 are also supplied to thesynchronizing circuit 55. The synchronizing circuit 55 constructs databroadcast data from the bookmark data and the output of the MUX 58. Italso constructs music frames containing the actual broadcast data anddata frames containing the data broadcast data, synchronizes these data,and outputs them.

In addition, the synchronizing circuit 55 comprises a memory 55A. Thememory 55A temporarily stores bookmark data for one program (song).

The synchronizing circuit 55, by arranging bookmark data for a certainprogram stored in the memory 55A in the data frames of data broadcastdata for this program, places identical bookmark data in the bookmarkpart of the data frames constituting this program.

Audio data (for example, the compressed encoded data or sample soundsdescribed above) in the data broadcast contents are supplied to a datacompression unit 56. The data compression unit 56 compresses the audiodata supplied to it by, for example, the ATRAC 2 scheme, and supplies itto the MUX 58. In the audio data, the compressed encoded data, forexample, has already been compressed by the ATRAC 2 scheme or the like.Audio data already compressed in this way passes through the datacompression unit 56 and is supplied to the MUX 58 without furthermodification.

Image data in the data broadcast contents (for example, a jacket photo,artiste's photo or still picture coupon, etc.) are supplied to the datacompression unit 57. The data compression unit 57 compresses the imagedata supplied to it by for example the JPEG (Joint Photographic ExpertsGroup) scheme, and supplies the result to the MUX 58.

In addition to the output of the data compression units 56 and 57, textdata and other data in the data broadcast contents are also supplied tothe MUX 58. The MUX 58 multiplexes the data broadcast contents suppliedto it, and supplies the result to the synchronizing circuit 55. The textdata or other data may also be supplied to the MUX 58 after compression.

Next, the processing of the signal processing unit 13 of FIG. 7 will bedescribed referring to FIG. 8.

The DJ's voice from the microphone 11 is amplified by the amplifier 51,converted to a digital signal in the A/D converter 52, and supplied tothe mixer 53. In addition to the DJ's voice, other data such as thesongs which comprise actual broadcast data, advertisements and jinglesare also supplied to the mixer 53, and mixed therein to form the actualbroadcast data which is supplied to the data compression unit 54. Thedata compression unit 54 compresses the actual broadcast data from themixer 53, and supplies it to the synchronizing circuit 55.

In the data compression units 56 or 57, on the other hand, audio dataand image data in the data broadcast contents are respectivelycompressed, and supplied to the MUX 58. In addition to the output of thedata compression units 56 and 57, text data and other data in the databroadcast contents are also supplied to the MUX 58. Therein, these dataare multiplexed, and the result is supplied to the synchronizing circuit55.

In addition to the actual broadcast data and the output of the MUX 58,bookmark data for the actual broadcast data program is also supplied tothe synchronizing circuit 55. The synchronizing circuit 55 constructsthe data broadcast data from the bookmark data and the output of the MUX58, synchronizes the music frames which form the actual broadcast dataand the data frames which form the data broadcast data, and outputsthem.

That is, when the synchronizing circuit 55 receives the bookmark datafor a certain program, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, the bookmarkdata is stored in the memory 55A in a step S1, the routine proceeds to astep S2, an initial value of, for example, 1 is set in a parameter i forcounting the number of music frames constituting the program and thedata frames, and the routine proceeds to a step S3.

In the step S3, a music frame #i is constructed using the actualbroadcast data, a data frame #i is constructed by arranging apredetermined amount of the output data from the MUX 58 after thebookmark data stored in the memory 55A, and the routine proceeds to astep S4. In the step S4, the music frame #i and data frame #i aresynchronized and output simultaneously, and the routine proceeds to astep S5.

In the step S5, it is determined whether or not the songs broadcast inthe actual broadcast have finished. When it is determined that they havenot yet finished, the routine proceeds to a step S6, and the parameter iis incremented by 1. The routine then returns to the step S3, and thesame processing is repeated.

When it is determined in the step S5 that the songs broadcast in theactual broadcast have finished, an EOF is output as actual broadcastdata and data broadcast data, the routine waits for the bookmark datafor the next program to be supplied, and returns to the step S1.

Therefore, except for the special case where the program broadcast datafinish in a very short time, bookmark data about the program areperiodically transmitted while actual broadcast data for the program isbeing transmitted by disposing it in the data frames. Consequently, inthe user terminal 3, loss of bookmark data for a certain program issuppressed as far as possible.

Next, FIG. 9 shows an example of the construction of the signalprocessing unit 27 in the user terminal 3 of FIG. 5.

Actual broadcast data from the ECC circuit 25 (FIG. 5) are supplied to adata expansion unit 61. The data expansion unit 61 expands this actualbroadcast data, and supplies it to the D/A converter 28 (FIG. 5).

The data broadcasting data from the ECC circuit 26 (FIG. 5) are suppliedto a DMUX 62. The DMUX 62 separates the data broadcasting data intobookmark data and data broadcast contents. Also, the DMUX 62 separatesthe data broadcast contents into data that can be displayed (referred tohereafter as display data for convenience), sample sounds, andcompressed encoded data, etc., and supplies it to a selector 63 togetherwith bookmark data.

The selector 63 comprises a memory 63A, and the output of the DMUX 63 isstored temporarily in the memory 63A. Also, the selector 63 selects someof the data stored in the memory 63A according to the operation of thecontrol unit 31 (FIG. 5), and supplies it to the display device 30 (FIG.5) via an expansion unit 70 or to a storage 64. Display data (e.g., songtitle (name of song), artiste name (name of singer) and jacket photo)are basically supplied to the display device 30, while bookmark data,sample sounds and compressed encoded data are basically supplied to thestorage 64 respectively.

The storage 64 stores the bookmark data, sample sounds and compressedencoded data supplied from the selector 63. The storage 64 also storesthe decoding key supplied from a download processing unit 65. Herein,the storage 64 may be built into the user terminal 3, but it may alsofor example comprise a memory card which can easily be fitted andremoved. If the storage 64 is a memory card or the like, it canconveniently be brought to a dealer to receive compressed encoded dataand its decoding key as described in FIG. 1.

When the control unit 31 is operated to request the download of adecoding key or compressed encoded data, the download processing unit 65controls the modem 32 (FIG. 5) to request the download from the EMDserver 5 via the Internet 4. A personal information memory unit 66stores a user's name, address, telephone number, credit card number orbank account number as personal user information required for accountingwhich is performed when the decoding key or compressed encoded data isdownloaded. This personal information is transmitted together with therequest when the download processing unit 65 requests download of thedecoding key or compressed encoded data.

A reproduction controller 67 reproduces the data stored by the storage64, and supplies it to a decoder 68. When compressed encoded data and adecoding key are supplied from the reproduction controller 67, thedecoder 68 decodes the compressed encoded data using the decoding key,and the compressed full song data which are obtained as a result aresupplied to a data expansion unit 69. The decoder 68 also suppliessample sounds to the data expansion unit 69 without modification whensample sounds are supplied from the reproduction controller 67.

If the full song data and sample sounds supplied from the decoder 68 arecompressed, the data expansion unit 69 expands the compressed full songdata or sample sounds, and supplies them to the D/A converter 28 (FIG.5). If the display data supplied from the selector 63 is compressed, thedata expansion unit 70 expands the compressed display data, and suppliesit to the display device 30. When the supplied data is not compressed,the data expansion units 69 and 70 output the data without modification.

Next, the processing of the signal processing unit 27 of FIG. 9 will bedescribed referring to the flowchart of FIG. 10.

The actual broadcast data from the ECC circuit 25 is supplied to thedata expansion unit 61. The data expansion unit 61 expands the actualbroadcast data, and supplies it to the speaker 29 via the D/A converter28. In this way, the actual broadcast is output from the speaker 29.

On the other hand, the data broadcasting data from the ECC circuit 26 issupplied to the DMUX 62, and is separated into bookmark data and databroadcast contents. Also, in the DMUX 62, the data broadcast contentsare separated into display data, sample sounds and compressed encodeddata, and supplied to the selector 63 together with bookmark data.

The selector 63 temporarily stores the data from the DMUX 63 in a memory63A, and subsequently, the stored contents are progressively updated bydata freshly supplied from the DMUX 63. Specifically, in the memory 63A,bookmark data is updated for example every data frame, and databroadcast contents are updated for example each time one song in theactual broadcast finishes.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10, first in a step S11, it isdetermined whether or not the control unit 31 was operated to outputdisplay data. When it is determined that it was so operated, the routineproceeds to a step S12, the selector 63 reads the display data stored inthe memory 63A, this data is supplied to the display device 30 via thedata expansion unit 70, and the routine returns to the step S11. As aresult, a jacket photo, artiste photo, title and singer's name, forexample, are displayed by the display device 30 for the song currentlybeing broadcast.

On the other hand, when it is determined in the step S11 that thecontrol unit 31 was not operated to output display data, the routineproceeds to a step S13, and it is determined whether or not the controlunit 31 was bookmark operated. When it is determined in the step S13that the control unit 31 was bookmark operated, i.e., when the user isinterested in a song broadcast in the actual broadcast, and hasperformed an operation to attach a “mark” to this song, the routineproceeds to a step S14, the selector 63 reads bookmark data, samplesounds and compressed encoded data stored in the memory 63A, suppliesthem to the storage 64 where they are stored, and the routine returns tothe step S11. In this way, bookmark data, sample sounds and compressedencoded data for a particular song broadcast during the actual broadcastwhen the control unit 31 is bookmark operated, are stored (recorded) inthe storage 64.

Herein, as described above, the data broadcast contents are updatedwhenever one song of the actual broadcast is finished, so if the controlunit 31 was bookmark operated, sample sounds and compressed encoded datafor one song are retained in the storage 64 while that song is beingbroadcast, but if the control unit 31 was not bookmark operated, thisdata is erased from the user terminal 3.

When it is determined in the step S13 that the control unit 31 was notbookmark operated, the routine proceeds to a step S15, and it isdetermined whether or not the control unit 31 was operated to outputsample sounds. When it is determined in the step S15 that the controlunit 31 was operated to output sample sounds, the routine proceeds to astep S16, the reproduction controller 67 reads sample sounds stored inthe storage 64 therefrom, the sample sounds are supplied to the speaker29 via the decoder 68, data expansion unit 69 and D/A converter 28, andthe routine returns to the step S11. As a result, the sample sounds areoutput from the speaker 29.

Herein, even if compressed encoded data for a certain song is stored inthe storage 64 due to the control unit 31 performing a bookmarkoperation, the user may forget what the song was. In such a case, theuser can remember the song by reproducing and listening to a samplesound as described hereabove.

On the other hand, when it is determined in the step S15 that thecontrol unit 31 was not operated to output sample sounds, the routineproceeds to a step S17, and it is determined whether or not the controlunit 31 was downloaded operated to request download of a decoding key.When it is determined in the step S17 that the control unit 31 wasdownload operated, the routine proceeds to a step S18, and the downloadprocessing unit 65 performs download processing of the decoding key.

If, in the EMD server 5, there is a file of a decoding key of compressedencoded data for certain full song data, the ISRC of the full song datais taken as a file name, and an EMD link of the bookmark data representsthe host name of the EMD server 5 which manages the full song data, thedownload processing unit 65 will take the EMD link of the bookmark datastored in the storage 64 as the host name, and will construct a URLwherein the ISRC is a file name. The download processing unit 65 willalso control the modem 32 based on this URL, establish a communicationlink with the EMD server 5, read personal information from the personalinformation storage unit 66, request the decoding key, and transmit thisinformation and request to the EMD server 5.

When the request for the decoding key and the personal information arereceived, the EMD server 5 performs accounting based on the personalinformation, and transmits the requested decoding key to the userterminal 3. The decoding key thus transmitted from the EMD server 5 tothe user terminal 3 is received by the download processing unit 65 viathe modem 32.

When the download processing unit 65 receives the decoding key, theroutine proceeds to a step S19, the decoding key is stored in thestorage 64, and the routine returns to the step S11.

When the control unit 31 was download operated and bookmark data was notstored in the storage 64, instead of performing the processing of thesteps S18, S19 in the user terminal 3, a notice to this effect may forexample be output from the speaker 29 or displayed by the display device30.

On the other hand, when it is determined in the step S17 that thecontrol unit 31 was not download operated, the routine proceeds to astep S20, and it is determined whether or not the control unit 31 wasoperated to reproduce a song (hereafter referred to as a reproductionoperation for convenience). When it is determined in the step S20 thatthe control unit 31 was reproduction operated, the routine proceeds to astep S21, reproduction of the song by the reproduction controller 67begins, and the routine returns to the step S11.

In other words, the reproduction controller 67 reads the compressedencoded data and the decoding key stored in the storage 64 therefrom,and supplies them to the decoder 68. The decoder 68 decodes thecompressed encoded data from the reproduction controller 67 using thedecoding key from the reproduction controller 67, and supplies thedecoded data to the data expansion unit 69. In the data expansion unit69, the decoded data from the decoder 68 is expanded to full song datawhich is supplied to the speaker 29 via the D/A converter 28. As aresult, the same song is reproduced from the speaker 29 as in the caseof playing back a CD.

In addition, the data decoded in the decoder 68, and the data expandedin the data expansion unit 69 can be output from an output terminal, notillustrated, and recorded by a recording device, also not illustrated.

On the other hand, when it is determined in the step S20 that thecontrol unit 31 was not reproduction operated, the routine returns tothe step S11.

When the control unit 31 was reproduction operated and compressedencoded data or a decoding key was not stored in the storage 64, in theuser terminal 3, a notice to this effect may for example be output fromthe speaker 29 or displayed by the display device 30 instead ofperforming the processing of the step S21.

When the control unit 31 was reproduction operated and compressedencoded data or a decoding key is stored in the storage 64, (as when thecontrol unit 31 is operated to output sample sounds and plural samplesounds are stored in the storage 64), a list of titles or singers' namescorresponding to this plural compressed encoded data is displayed on thedisplay device 30 so the user can choose which of the compressed encodeddata to reproduce. The titles of songs corresponding to the compressedencoded data can be recognized by referring to the bookmark data storedin the storage 64.

As described hereabove, in the transmitting device 1, bookmark datarequired for acquiring the decoding key for decoding the compressedencoded data of a song broadcast in the actual broadcast are disposed toform data broadcasting data, and the data broadcasting data containingthe bookmark data required to acquire the decoding key for decoding thecompressed encoded data of the song in the actual broadcast aretransmitted on plural occasions while the actual broadcast data is beingtransmitted. The actual broadcast data and data broadcast data arereceived by the user terminal 3, and when the control unit 31 isbookmark operated, the bookmark data contained in the data broadcastdata is stored in the storage 64.

Therefore, the user can easily receive full song data about a desiredsong.

In the aforementioned case, compressed encoded data were broadcast inthe data broadcast, and the decoding key used for decoding was requestedfrom the EMD server 5. However, it is possible to request a set of thecompressed encoded data and the decoding key for decoding the compressedencoded data from the EMD server 5 without broadcasting the compressedencoded data in the actual broadcast (although it may be so broadcast).Alternatively, full song data which is not encoded may be requested fromthe EMD server 5.

Next, in the aforementioned case, full song data were offered by databroadcasting and the EMD server 5 separately from the actual broadcastdata, but full song data can be provided also by using the actualbroadcast data.

Specifically, the compressed encoded data broadcast by data broadcastingin the aforementioned case are obtained by compressing and encoding fullsong data, and this full song data is broadcast in the actual broadcast.However, if the full song data (first signal) is as shown for example inFIG. 11A, in the actual broadcast, the actual broadcast data shown inFIG. 11C, which is obtained for example by superimposing what may beconsidered to be “noise” (second signal) from the viewpoint of the fullsong data, such as the DJ's voice, narration, jingles, sound effects oradvertisements shown in FIG. 11B on the beginning part or end part, isoften broadcast.

Therefore, if the DJ's voice or jingles, etc., which is noise from theviewpoint of the full song data shown in FIG. 11D which is identical toFIG. 11B, in the actual broadcast data are included in data broadcastdata as “full song data generating data”, the full song data may beobtained (generated) using this generating data and the actual broadcastdata.

In this case, the signal processing unit 13 of the transmitting device 1(FIG. 4) is comprised, for example, as shown in FIG. 12. In the figure,parts corresponding to the case in FIG. 7 are assigned the same symbolsand their description is omitted herebelow. Specifically, except for theprovision of a mixer 151, data compression unit 152 and encoding unit153 in the signal processing unit 13 of FIG. 12, the arrangement isbasically the same as that of FIG. 7.

Jingles, advertisements and the DJ's voice output by the A/D converter52 which are also included in the actual broadcast data apart from fullsong data and which are noise from the viewpoint of full song data, areinput into the mixer 151 as generating data. In the mixer 151, thegenerating data supplied to it is mixed, and supplied to the datacompression unit 152. In the data compression unit 152, the generatingdata is compressed and supplied to the encoding unit 153. In theencoding unit 153, the generating data output by the data compressionunit 152 is encoded, and supplied to the MUX 58.

In the signal processing unit 13 of FIG. 12, apart from the presence ofthe generating data which the encoding unit 153 outputs instead of thecompressed encoded data in the (data broadcast contents of the) databroadcast data, the actual broadcast data and data broadcast data areconstructed and output as in the case described in FIG. 7.

Next, FIG. 13 shows an example of the construction of the signalprocessing unit 27 of the user terminal 3 (FIG. 5) when generating datais contained in the data broadcast data. Regarding parts of the figurethat have the same construction as that of FIG. 9, the same symbols areassigned and their description is herebelow omitted for convenience.That is, except for the provision of the memory 161 and computing unit162, the signal processing unit 27 of FIG. 13 basically has the sameconstruction as that of FIG. 9.

The memory 161 temporarily stores the actual broadcast data output bythe data expansion unit 61 outputs. When the memory 161 has no furtherstorage capacity, the most recent actual broadcast data is stored by,for example, overwriting the oldest broadcast data. Storage and erasureof actual broadcast data in the memory 161 is performed in song(program) units.

On the other hand, in the DMUX 62, the data broadcast data supplied toit are separated into bookmark data and data broadcast contents.Further, in the DMUX 62, the data broadcast contents are separated intodisplay data, sample sounds and generating data, etc., and are suppliedto the selector 63 together with bookmark data.

The selector 63 temporarily stores the data from the DMUX 63 in thememory 63A, and the stored contents are progressively memory updated bynew data from the DMUX 63.

When the control unit 31 is bookmark operated, the selector 63 reads thebookmark data and sample sounds which were stored by the memory 63A, andsupplies them to the storage 64, as mentioned above. The selector 63also reads generating data contained in the data broadcast contentsinstead of compressed encoded data from the memory 63A, and suppliesthis also to the storage 64 where it is stored. Further, when thecontrol unit 31 is bookmark operated, the selector 63 reads the actualbroadcast data which was being stored in the memory 161 after waitingfor the song to finish (after waiting for one song of the actualbroadcast data to be stored in the memory 161), and supplies it to thestorage 64 where it is stored.

Subsequently, when the control unit 31 is download operated, thedownload processing unit 65 accesses the EMD server 5 as in the case ofFIG. 9 based on the EMD link in the bookmark data stored by the storage64, and requests the decoding key for decoding the generating datastored by the storage 64. The EMD server 5 transmits the decoding keyaccording to this request, this decoding key is received in the downloadprocessing unit 65 and stored by the storage 64. Herein, it is assumedthat the decoding key for decoding the data encoded in the encoding unit153 of FIG. 12 is stored in the EMD server 5.

When the control unit 31 is reproduction operated, the reproductioncontroller 67 reads the generating data stored in the storage 64therefrom, and supplies it to the decoder 68. The decoder 68 likewisedecodes the generating data from the reproduction controller 67 usingthe decoding key from the reproduction controller 67, and supplies thedecoded data to the data expansion unit 69. In the data expansion unit69, the decoded data from the decoder 68 is expanded to full generatingdata, and supplied to the computing unit 162.

The reproduction controller 67 also reads the actual broadcast datastored in the storage 64 therefrom, and supplies it to the computingunit 162. The computing unit 162 generates the full song data shown inFIG. 11A by subtracting the generating data shown in FIG. 11D suppliedfrom the data expansion unit 69, from the actual broadcast data shown inFIG. 11C supplied from the reproduction controller 67. This full songdata is supplied to the speaker 29 via the D/A converter 28, and thesame song as is obtained by, for example, playing a CD is output fromthe speaker 29.

Next, in this actual broadcast, after broadcasting for example the fullsong data. #1 shown in FIG. 14A, the full song data #2 shown in FIG. 14Bmay be broadcast, and in this case, transmission of the full song data#2 may start before transmission of the full song data #1 has finished.In this case, the actual broadcast data shown in FIG. 14C is transmittedwherein the end of the full song data #1 and the beginning of the fullsong data #2 overlap. In this actual broadcast data, the full song data#2 is noise from the viewpoint of the full song data #1, and conversely,the full song data #1 is noise from the viewpoint of the full song data#2. Therefore, if the overlapping parts of the full song data #1 or #2respectively shown in FIG. 14D or FIG. 14E (referred to hereafter asoverlapping parts for convenience) are included as generating data inthe data broadcast data transmitted together with the actual broadcastdata comprising the full song data #1 or #2, the full song data #1 and#2 can be obtained using this generating data and the actual broadcastdata.

The full song data #1 can be obtained by replacing the overlapping partof the actual broadcast data of FIG. 14C by the overlapping part of thefull song data #1 of FIG. 14D, or by subtracting the overlapping part ofthe full song data #2 of FIG. 14E from the overlapping part of theactual broadcast data of FIG. 14C. The same is true of the full songdata #2.

FIG. 15 shows an example of the construction of the signal processingunit 13 of the transmitting device 1 (FIG. 4) in the case where theoverlapping parts described in FIGS. 14A to 14E are present in theactual broadcast data. In the figure, identical symbols are assigned toparts corresponding to the case of FIG. 7, and their description isherebelow omitted for convenience. That is, except for the provision ofthe overlap detecting unit 251, data compression unit 252 and encodingunit 253, the signal processing unit 13 of FIG. 15 basically has anidentical construction to that of FIG. 7.

In the embodiment of FIG. 15, the full song data #1 which is broadcastfirst, and the full song data #2 broadcast after it so that partoverlaps, are input to the mixer 53, and in the mixer 53, they are mixedwith the DJ's voice, jingles, etc., and output. Herein, to simplify thedescription, it will be assumed that the DJ's voice, etc., is notsuperimposed on the full song data #1 and #2.

The full song data #1 and #2 are also supplied to the overlap detectingelement 251. In the overlap detecting element 251, the interval whereinthe full song data #1 and #2 overlap (referred to hereafter as overlapinterval) is detected, and the full song data #1 and #2 in this overlapinterval, i.e., the overlapping part of the full song data #1 and theoverlapping part of the full song data #2, are supplied as generatingdata to the data compression unit 252. In the data compression unit 252,either the overlapping part of the full song data #1 or the overlappingpart of the full song data #2 which are generating data, or both, arecompressed, and supplied to the encoding unit 253. In the encoding unit253, the generating data output by the data compression unit 252 outputsis encoded, and supplied to the MUX 58.

In the signal processing unit 13 of FIG. 15, except for the fact thatthe generating data output by the encoder 253 is disposed in the (databroadcast contents of the) data broadcast data instead of compressedencoded data, the actual broadcast data and data broadcast data areconstructed and output as in the case described in FIG. 7.

The signal processing unit 27 of the user terminal 3 (FIG. 5) in thecase where the aforesaid data broadcast data is transmitted, has anidentical construction to, for example, that shown in FIG. 13.

When generating the full song data #1, if the overlapping part of thefull song data #1 is included as generating data, in the computing unit162, the full song data #1 is generated by replacing the overlappingpart of the actual broadcast data by the overlapping part of the fullsong data #1. On the other hand, if the overlapping part of the fullsong data #2 is included as generating data, in the computing unit 162,the full song data #1 is generated by subtracting the overlapping partof the full song data #2 from the overlapping part of the actualbroadcast data.

Likewise, when generating the full song data #2, if the overlapping partof the full song data #2 is included as generating data, in thecomputing unit 162, the full song data #2 is generated by replacing theoverlapping part of the actual broadcast data by the overlapping part ofthe full song data #2. On the other hand, if the overlapping part of thefull song data #1 is included as generating data, in the computing unit162, the full song data #2 is generated by subtracting the overlappingpart of the full song data #1 from the overlapping part of the actualbroadcast data.

When the overlapping parts of both the full song data #1 and #2 areincluded as generating data, the full song data #1 or #2 may begenerated by either the above replacement or subtraction.

When the full song data #1 and #2 are broadcast without overlapping, theoverlapping parts of the full song data #1 and #2 are both 0. In thiscase, the full song data #1 and #2 may be obtained by receiving theactual broadcast data.

In the embodiment of FIG. 15, the overlap interval part detected by theoverlap detecting unit 251 (apart from its length, this may also be thestart point and end point of the overlap interval) may be included inthe data broadcast data and transmitted.

Moreover, the overlap interval can be made adjustable by adjusting thetime at which input of the full song data #2 is started.

Next, in the embodiment of FIG. 12 and FIG. 15, in the actual broadcastdata, parts where the DJ's voice are superimposed on the full song dataor overlapping parts are different from the full song data. However,other parts consist only of full song data, and if there are only a fewparts where the DJ's voice is superimposed or overlapping parts in theactual broadcast data, there will be practically no difference from thefull song data. In this case, it may occur that an increasing number ofusers are content to record the actual broadcast and the number ofdownloads will decrease. This situation is undesirable from theviewpoint of the EMD service operator.

For this reason, in the transmitting device 1, when for example the fullsong data shown in FIG. 16A is to be transmitted, this full song datamay be split into a low frequency component and a high frequencycomponent, or into an upper bit and a lower bit, as shown in FIG. 16Band FIG. 16C. The low frequency component or upper bit is thentransmitted as the actual broadcast data, while the high frequencycomponent or lower bit is transmitted as generating data contained inthe data broadcast data.

In this case, in the actual broadcast, a song which has deterioratedsound quality compared to the full song data is broadcast, but the usercan listen to a song with high sound quality by generating the full songdata using the high frequency component or lower bit as generating data.

FIG. 17 shows an example of the construction of the signal processingunit 13 of the transmitting device 1 (FIG. 4), in the case where thefull song data is split into a low frequency component and highfrequency component or an upper bit and lower bit, the low frequencycomponent or upper bit is transmitted as actual broadcast data, and thehigh frequency component or lower bit is transmitted as generating datacontained in the data broadcast data. In the figure, parts correspondingto the case of FIG. 7 are assigned identical symbols, and theirdescription is herebelow omitted for convenience. Specifically, exceptfor the provision of a data splitting unit 351, data compression unit352 and encoding unit 353, the signal processing unit 13 of FIG. 17 hasa basically identical construction to that of FIG. 7.

The full song data of the song broadcast in the actual broadcast issupplied to the data splitting unit 351, and the data splitting unit 351splits the full song data into a low frequency component and highfrequency component, or an upper bit and lower bit.

Specifically, the data splitting unit 351 for example sub-band encodesthe full song data, and splits it into plural frequency components. Ofthese plural frequency components, the highest bands for example aretaken as the high frequency component, the remainder are taken as thelow frequency component, and these components are then output.Alternatively, the data splitting unit 351 for example applies adiscrete cosine transformation to the full song data, takes low ordercoefficients as the low frequency component and high order coefficientsas the high frequency component, and then outputs these components. Thedata splitting unit 351 can also simply split the full song data into anupper bit and lower bit, and output these.

In the following description, for convenience, the low frequencycomponent or upper bit obtained by the data splitting unit 351 shall bereferred to as ordinary sound quality song data, and the high frequencycomponent or lower bit shall be referred to as high sound quality data.

The ordinary sound quality song data output by the splitting unit 351 issupplied to the mixer 53, and then transmitted as actual broadcast datain the same way as in the case described above.

The high sound quality data output by the data splitting unit 351 issupplied to the data compression unit 352 as generating data. In thedata compression unit 352, the high sound quality data which isgenerating data is compressed, and supplied to the encoding unit 353. Inthe encoding unit 353, the generating data output by the datacompression unit 352 is encoded, and supplied to the MUX 58.

In the signal processing unit 13 of FIG. 17, except for the fact thatgenerating data output by the encoding unit 353 is disposed in the (databroadcast contents of the) data broadcast data instead of compressedencoded data, data broadcast data is constructed and output in the sameway as described for FIG. 7.

The signal processing unit 27 of the user terminal 3 (FIG. 5) in thecase where the data broadcast data described above is transmitted, mayfor example have an identical construction to that shown in FIG. 13.

In FIG. 13, the actual broadcast data output by the data expansion unit61 is ordinary sound quality song data, i.e., it is the low frequencycomponent or upper bit of the full song data, so the sound quality isworse than in the case where the full song data is reproduced.

Therefore, a user who desires higher sound quality must acquire adecoding key to decode the generating data and generate the full songdata in the same way as described for FIG. 13.

In this case, in the computing unit 162 of FIG. 13, the full song datais generated by performing sub-band decoding and a reverse discretecosine transformation using the actual broadcast data and generatingdata, and combining the actual broadcast data which is the upper bitwith the generating data which is the lower bit.

Hence, as described above, when full song data is provided using theactual broadcast data, it is sufficient to transmit compressed andencoded generating data, which basically has a lower data amount thanthe compressed, encoded data obtained by compressing and encoding theentire full song data, in the data broadcast. This allows other data tobe contained in the data broadcast data, or allows the data broadcastdata to be transferred with a smaller transfer capacity.

In the above case, the generating data was transmitted in the databroadcast data, but the generating data can also be provided togetherwith a decoding key from the EMD server 5 without including it (or inaddition to including it) in the data broadcast data.

In the above description, while a song #k was being transmitted in anactual broadcast, bookmark data was disposed in the bookmark part (FIG.3) as information for acquiring the song #k and transmittedperiodically, while jacket photo data and compressed encoded data forthe song. #k was disposed and transmitted in the concluding part (FIG.3). In other words, in the actual broadcast, transmission of databroadcast data for the song #k started together with transmission of thesong #k and ended when the transmission ended, however in the databroadcast data, transmission of bookmark data for the song #k can takeplace during the actual broadcast of the song #k as in the above case,while transmission of jacket photo data or compressed encoded data forthe song #k can be performed at a different time from the time when theactual broadcast of the song #k is made (therefore, the time at whichtransmission begins is different).

For example, the jacket photo or other data for the song #k can betransmitted in the data broadcast data for the song #k−1 which istransmitted in the actual broadcast prior to the song #k, as shown inFIG. 18.

Image data such as jacket photos generally contain a large amount ofdata, and if they are transmitted in a data broadcast together with thebeginning of the actual broadcast of the song #k, the jacket photocannot be displayed by the user terminal 3 until some time (timerequired to transmit the jacket photo or other image data) has elapsedfrom beginning the actual broadcast of the song #k. The user thereforehas to wait a certain time after the actual broadcast of the song #k hasstarted until the jacket photo for the song #k can be seen.

On the other hand, if the jacket photo or other data for the song #k isincluded in the data broadcast data for the song #k−1 which is broadcastearlier in the actual broadcast than the song #k, all the data for thejacket photo for the song #k is received by the user terminal 3 whenactual broadcast of the song #k begins, and therefore the user can seethe jacket photo for the song #k immediately after actual broadcast ofthe song #k starts.

Also, for example, compressed encoded data for the song #k may betransmitted in the data broadcast data for the song #k+1 which isbroadcast later than the song #k, as shown in FIG. 18.

As described in FIG. 10, storage (recording) of the compressed encodeddata for the song #k in the storage 64 (FIG. 9) is started by a bookmarkoperation of the control unit 31 (FIG. 5). Therefore, as the compressedencoded data for the song #k is transmitted in the data broadcast whilethe actual broadcast of the song #k is taking place, it may occur that,if the user performs a bookmark operation after listening to the song #kin the actual broadcast for some time, transmission of the compressedencoded data for the song #k has already begun.

Conversely, if the compressed encoded data for the song #k istransmitted in the data broadcast data for the song #k+1 which isbroadcast in the actual broadcast later than the song #k, and if theuser performs a bookmark operation after listening to the song #k in theactual broadcast for some time after transmission of compressed encodeddata for the song #k has started following the end of the actualtransmission of the song #k, reception of the compressed encoded datafor the song #k can be performed after waiting for the end of the actualbroadcast of the song #k and the start of the data broadcast for thesong #k.

Herein, transmission of compressed encoded data for the song #k in thedata broadcast data for the song #k+1 which is broadcast in the actualbroadcast later than the song #k is particularly effective when thesignal processing unit 27 (FIG. 9) of the user terminal 3 does notinclude, for example, the memory 63A. Specifically, if the memory 63A isnot provided in the signal processing unit 27, and compressed encodeddata for the song #k is broadcast in the data broadcast during theactual broadcast of the song #k, it may occur that when a bookmarkoperation is performed, transmission of the compressed encoded data forthe song #k may have finished in the middle (or at the end) so that thecorrect compressed encoded data can no longer be obtained. On the otherhand, when the compressed encoded data for the song #k is contained inthe data broadcast data for the song #k+1, the correct compressedencoded data for the song #k can be obtained after starting actualbroadcast of the song #k+1 even if the memory 63A is not provided.

In the above case, compressed encoded data for the song #k−1 and imagedata such as a jacket photo for the song #k+1 are transmitted in thedata broadcast data for the song #k.

There is no particular limitation on the position of data such as thejacket photo for the song #k in the data broadcast data for the song#k−1, but in the embodiment of FIG. 18, the arrangement is such thatwhen the actual broadcast of the song #k−1 finishes, transmission of thejacket photo or other data for the song #k also finishes simultaneously.

Further, there is no particular limitation on the position of compressedencoded data for the song #k in the data broadcast data for the song.#k+1, but in the embodiment of FIG. 18, the arrangement is such thatwhen data transmission for the song #k+1 begins, transmission of thecompressed encoded data for the song #k also begins simultaneously.

The jacket photo or other data for the song #k may be contained not onlyin the data broadcast data for the song #k−1, but also in data broadcastdata which is broadcast earlier than this. Likewise, the compressedencoded data for the song #k may be contained not only in the databroadcast data for the song #k+1, but also in data broadcast data whichis broadcast later than this.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 19, the processing of thesynchronizing circuit 55 in the signal processing unit 13 (FIG. 7) ofthe transmitting device i (FIG. 4) will be described when transmissionof the bookmark data (first additional data) for the song #k in the databroadcast data is performed during actual broadcast of the song #k, andtransmission of jacket photo data or compressed encoded data (secondadditional data) for the song #k is performed as a different time to theactual broadcast of the song #k, as shown in FIG. 18. Herein, it will beassumed that the song #k is a desired song currently being processed.

Firstly in a step S31, in the synchronizing circuit 55, bookmark datafor the desired song #k supplied thereto is stored in the memory 55A.The routine then proceeds to a step S32, a number of data framesrequired to transmit compressed encoded data for the song #k−1 broadcastearlier than the desired song #k is set in a parameter A, and a numberof data frames required to transmit image data such as a jacket photo(this is intended to introduce the song and will therefore be referredto hereafter as introductory data for convenience) for the song #k+1,which is broadcast after the desired song #k, is set in a parameter B.Further, in the step S32, a number of music frames required to transmitthe desired song #k is set in a parameter N. Herein, it will be assumedthat the relation A<N−B holds for the parameters A, B, N.

Subsequently, in a step S33, an initial value of 1 is set in theparameter i for counting the number of music frames and data frames, theroutine proceeds to a step S34 where a music frame #i is constructed,and the routine proceeds to a step S35. In the step S35, it isdetermined whether or not the parameter i is equal to or less than theparameter A.

When it is determined in the step S35 that the parameter i is equal toor less than the parameter A, i.e., when it is determined that thenumber of data frames transmitted for the song #k is equal to or lessthan the number of data frames required to transmit compressed encodeddata for the song #k−1, the routine proceeds to a step S36, andcompressed encoded data for the song #k−1 is disposed after the bookmarkdata stored in the memory 55A so as to construct a data frame #i. Thisdata frame #i and the music frame #i formed in the step S34 are thenoutput by the synchronizing circuit 55, and the routine proceeds to astep S40.

When on the other hand it is determined in the step S35 that theparameter i is not equal to or less than the parameter A, i.e., whentransmission of compressed encoded data for the song #k−1 has completelyfinished, the routine proceeds to a step S37 and it is determinedwhether or not the parameter i is equal to or less than N−B.

In the step S37, when it is determined that the parameter i is equal toor less than N−B, i.e., when the number of remaining data framestransmitted for the song #k is greater than the number of data framesrequired to transmit introductory data for the song #k+1, the routineproceeds to a step S38, and the data broadcast contents for the desiredsong #k (excepting compressed encoded data and introductory data) aredisposed after the bookmark data stored in the memory 55A to form thedata frame #i. This data frame #i and the music frame #i formed in thestep S34 are then output by the synchronizing circuit 55, and theroutine proceeds to the step S40.

When on the other hand it is determined in the step S37 that theparameter i is not equal to or less than N-B, i.e., when the number ofremaining data frames transmitted for the song #k is equal to or lessthan the number data frames required to transmit introductory data forthe song #k+1, the routine proceeds to a step S39, and introductory datafor the song #k+1 are disposed after the bookmark data stored in thememory 55A to form the data frame #i. This data frame #i and the musicframe #i formed in the step S34 are then output by the synchronizingcircuit 55, and the routine proceeds to the step S40.

In the step S40, the parameter i is incremented by 1, the routineproceeds to a step S41, and it is determined whether or not theparameter i is larger than the parameter N. When it is determined in thestep S41 that the parameter i is not larger than the parameter N, i.e.,when all the music frames and data frames for the desired song #k havenot yet been transmitted, the routine returns to the step S34 and thesame processing is repeated thereafter.

On the other hand, when it is determined in the step S41 that theparameter i is larger than the parameter N, i.e., when all the musicframes and data frames for the desired song #k have been transmitted,the routine waits for bookmark data for the next song #k+1 to besupplied, returns to the step S31, and processing from the step S31 isrepeated with the next song #k+1 as the new desired song.

Jacket photo data, etc., for the song #k can also be transmittedspanning data broadcast data for the song #k−1 and the song #k.Likewise, compressed encoded data for the song #k can also betransmitted spanning data broadcast data for the song #k and the song#k+1. In other words, the time at which transmission of jacket photodata or compressed encoded data for the song #k begins can bearbitrarily set.

In the above case, encoded data for the song #k was disposed in databroadcast data for the song #k+1, but generating data for the song #kmay also be disposed in data broadcast data for the song #k+1.

This invention has been described in the context of its application toradio broadcasting, however it may also be applied to televisionbroadcasting or the like. If this invention is applied to televisionbroadcasting, it may be used to provide image data such as filmsbroadcast during television broadcasts (if services providing audio dataare referred to as EMD services as described above, services providingimage data may be referred to as EVD (Electric Video Distribution), orfor example, if a game software scenario is broadcast during atelevision broadcast, it may be used to provide the game software(computer program). This invention may also be applied to, for example,services providing book data (e.g., “electronic book data”).

The embodiments of this invention used terrestrial waves as the transfermedium 2 (FIG. 1), but satellite circuits, the Internet and CATV (CableTelevision) networks can also be employed as the transfer medium 2.

In the embodiments of this invention, compressed encoded data where fullsong data was encoded and compressed generating data were provided, butfull song data and generating data may also be provided withoutencoding.

In the embodiments of this invention, the decoding key was provided at acharge, but it may also be provided free of charge.

In the embodiments of this invention, a predetermined input was given tothe signal processing unit 27 by operating the control unit 31 (FIG. 5),but a predetermined input can be given to the signal processing unit 27also by, for example, voice. In this case, however, a voice recognitiondevice which performs voice recognition is required.

Also, in the embodiments of this invention, bookmark data wastransmitted periodically by disposing it in the bookmark part of dataframes, but it is not absolutely necessary to transmit it periodically.

As described above, according to the transmitting method andtransmitting device of this invention, additional information isconstructed by disposing acquiring information necessary to acquirerelated data related to a broadcast signal, the broadcast signal istransmitted, and the additional information, wherein the acquiringinformation concerning the related data related to the broadcast signalis disposed, is transmitted on plural occasions during transmission ofthe broadcast signal. Therefore on the receiving side, the acquiringinformation can be received with less risk of error, and the relateddata can be obtained easily based on this acquiring information.

Further, according to the receiving method and receiving device of thisinvention, the broadcast signal and the additional information whereinthe acquiring information concerning the related data related to thebroadcast signal is disposed, are received, and when there is apredetermined input, the acquiring information disposed in theadditional information is stored. Therefore, the user can easily obtainthe related data based on the acquiring information.

Further, according to the transfer method and transfer device of thisinvention, additional information is constructed by disposing acquiringinformation necessary to acquire related data related to a broadcastsignal, the broadcast signal is transmitted, and the additionalinformation, wherein the acquiring information concerning the relateddata related to the broadcast signal is disposed, is transmitted onplural occasions during transmission of the broadcast signal. When thebroadcast signal and additional information are received and there is apredetermined input, the acquiring information disposed in theadditional information is stored. Therefore on the receiving side, theacquiring information can be received with less risk of error, and therelated data can be obtained easily based on this acquiring information.

1. A transmitting method for transmitting a predetermined broadcastsignal together with predetermined additional information, said methodcomprising: constructing said additional information including acquiringinformation to acquire related data related to said broadcast signalfrom a different source than said broadcast signal through a firsttransmission method and a second signal, wherein said broadcast signalcomprises said second signal superimposed on a first signal;transmitting, using a transmitter, said broadcasting signal to aterminal device through a second transmission method different from thefirst transmission method, and transmitting, to the terminal devicethrough the second transmission method, said additional information,including said acquiring information concerning said related datarelated to said broadcast signal on more than one occasion during thetransmitting of said broadcast signal, wherein: said first signal is afirst image or sound; said second signal is a second image or sound; apart of said first image or sound and a part of said second image orsound overlap in time in said broadcast signal; and the time amplitudeof the part where said first image or sound and said second image orsound overlap is contained in said additional information.
 2. Atransmitting method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said additionalinformation in which said acquiring information is disposed istransmitted periodically in said transmitting step.
 3. A transmittingmethod as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an errordetection/correction step for performing error detection/correction onsaid additional information.
 4. A transmitting method as claimed inclaim 3, wherein said additional information is transmitted in units onwhich error detection/correction has been performed.
 5. A transmittingmethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein said acquiring informationcomprises unique information uniquely assigned to said related data. 6.A transmitting method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said acquiringinformation comprises recognizing information useful for recognizing thecontent of said related data.
 7. A transmitting method as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said acquiring information comprises access informationused for accessing an access location where said related data isprovided.
 8. A transmitting method as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidadditional information in predetermined units comprises said acquiringinformation according to claim 1 when said additional information istransmitted in predetermined units.
 9. A transmitting method as claimedin claim 1, wherein said related data is video data or audio data whensaid broadcast signal is predetermined video data or audio data.
 10. Atransmitting method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said related data isa computer program when said broadcast signal is video data or audiodata obtained by executing a said computer program.
 11. A transmittingmethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein information useful for recognizingthe content of said related data is disposed in said additionalinformation in addition to said acquiring information in saidconstructing step.
 12. A transmitting method as claimed in claim 1,wherein said related data is disposed in said additional information inaddition to said acquiring information in said constructing step.
 13. Atransmitting method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said related data inwhich said additional information is disposed, is encoded.
 14. Atransmitting method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first signal isa predetermined image or sound, and said second signal is noise apartfrom said image or sound.
 15. A transmitting method as claimed in claim1, wherein said second signal disposed in said additional information isencoded.
 16. A transmitting method as claimed in claim 1, wherein theend of said first image or sound and the beginning of said second imageor sound overlap when said first image or sound is transmitted first,and said second image or sound is transmitted later.
 17. A transmittingmethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time amplitude of the partwhere part of said first image or sound and said second image or soundoverlap, is variable.
 18. A transmitting method as claimed in claim 1,wherein said additional information, in which said first image or soundor said second image or sound of the overlapping part is also disposedin addition to said acquiring information, is constructed in saidconstructing step.
 19. A transmitting method as claimed in claim 18,wherein said additional information, in which said first image or soundor said second image or sound of the overlapping part is disposed, istransmitted together with said broadcast signal corresponding to eithersaid first image or sound, or a broadcast signal corresponding to saidsecond image or sound, or to both, in said transmitting step.
 20. Atransmitting method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first image orsound or said second image or sound in the overlapping part disposed insaid additional information is encoded.
 21. A transmitting method asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising a splitting step for splittingsaid related data into a first component and a second component,wherein: said first component is transmitted as said broadcast signal insaid transmitting step.
 22. A transmitting method as claimed in claim21, wherein said second component is also disposed in said additionalinformation in addition to said acquiring information, in saidconstructing step.
 23. A transmitting method as claimed in claim 22,wherein said second component disposed in said additional information isencoded.
 24. A transmitting method as claimed in claim 21, wherein saidrelated data is video data or audio data, said first component is a lowregion component or an upper bit of said video data or audio data, andsaid second component is a high region component or a lower bit of saidvideo data or audio data.
 25. A transmitting method as claimed in claim1, wherein said acquiring information comprises access information usedfor accessing a database in which said related information is stored.26. A transmitting method as claimed in claim 25, wherein said acquiringinformation comprises unique information uniquely assigned to saidrelated data in addition to said access information.
 27. A transmittingmethod as claimed in claim 26, wherein said unique information is anISRC (International Standard Recording Code).
 28. A transmitting methodas claimed in claim 1, wherein, when said broadcast signal is abroadcast program of songs, said additional information comprises thetitles of said songs, names of singers singing said songs, names ofcompanies manufacturing the recording media on which said songs arerecorded, jacket photos for said recording media, photos of saidsingers, or a part of said songs recorded on said recording media insaid constructing step.
 29. A transmitting method as claimed in claim 1,wherein said additional information comprises information for a visualor audio advertisement or publicity when said broadcast signal is apredetermined image or sound in said constructing step.
 30. Atransmitting device for transmitting a predetermined broadcast signaltogether with predetermined additional information, said devicecomprising: constructing means for constructing said additionalinformation including acquiring information to acquire related datarelated to said broadcast from a different source than said broadcastsignal through a first transmission method, wherein said broadcastsignal comprises a second signal superimposed on a first signal, andwherein said constructing means constructs said additional informationby superimposing said second signal in addition to said acquiringinformation; and transmitting means for transmitting, to a terminaldevice through a second transmission method different from the firsttransmission method, said broadcast signal and said additionalinformation including said acquiring information concerning said relateddata related to said broadcast signal on more than one occasion duringthe transmission of said broadcast signal, wherein: said first signal isa first image or sound; said second signal is a second image or sound; apart of said first image or sound and a part of said second image orsound overlap in time in said broadcast signal; and the time amplitudeof the part where said first image or sound and said second image orsound overlap is contained in said additional information.
 31. Atransmitting device as claimed in claim 30, further comprising errordetection/correction means for performing error detection/correction onsaid additional information.
 32. A transmitting device as claimed inclaim 31, wherein said additional information is transmitted in units onwhich error detection/correction has been performed.
 33. A transmittingdevice as claimed in claim 30, wherein said transmitting meansperiodically transmits said additional information in which saidacquiring information is disposed.
 34. A transmitting device as claimedin claim 30, wherein said acquiring information comprises uniqueinformation uniquely assigned to said related data.
 35. A transmittingdevice as claimed in claim 30, wherein said acquiring informationcomprises recognizing information useful for recognizing the content ofsaid related data.
 36. A transmitting device as claimed in claim 30,wherein said acquiring information comprises access information used foraccessing an access location where said related data is provided.
 37. Atransmitting device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said related data isvideo data or audio data when said broadcast signal is predeterminedvideo data or audio data.
 38. A transmitting device as claimed in claim30, wherein said related data is a computer program when said broadcastsignal is video data or audio data obtained by executing a said computerprogram.
 39. A transmitting device as claimed in claim 30, whereininformation useful for recognizing the content of said related data isdisposed in said additional information in addition to said acquiringinformation in said constructing means.
 40. A transmitting device asclaimed in claim 30, wherein said related data is disposed in saidadditional information in addition to said acquiring information in saidconstructing means.
 41. A transmitting device as claimed in claim 40,wherein said related data in which said additional information isdisposed, is encoded.
 42. A transmitting device as claimed in claim 30,wherein said second signal disposed in said additional information isencoded.
 43. A transmitting device as claimed in claim 30, wherein saidconstructing means constructs said additional information by disposingsaid first image or sound or said second image or sound of theoverlapping part in addition to said acquiring information.
 44. Atransmitting device as claimed in claim 43, wherein said transmittingmeans transmits said additional information, in which said first imageor sound or said second image or sound of the overlapping part isdisposed, together with said broadcast signal corresponding to eithersaid first image or sound, or a broadcast signal corresponding to saidsecond image or sound, or to both.
 45. A transmitting device as claimedin claim 44, wherein said first image or sound or said second image orsound in the overlapping part disposed in said additional information isencoded.
 46. A transmitting device as claimed in claim 30, furthercomprising splitting means for splitting said related data into a firstcomponent and a second component, wherein: said transmitting meanstransmits said first component as said broadcast signal.
 47. Atransmitting device as claimed in claim 46, wherein said constructingmeans constructs said additional information by disposing said secondcomponent in addition to said acquiring information.
 48. A transmittingdevice as claimed in claim 47, wherein said second component disposed insaid additional information is encoded.
 49. A transmitting device asclaimed in claim 46, wherein said related data is video data or audiodata, said first component is a low region component or an upper bit ofsaid video data or audio data, and said second component is a highregion component or a lower bit of said video data or audio data.
 50. Atransmitting device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said acquiringinformation comprises access information used for accessing a databasein which said related information is stored.
 51. A transmitting methodcomprising: constructing predetermined additional information includingacquiring information to acquire data related to a predeterminedbroadcast signal from a different source than said broadcast signalthrough a first transmission method; transmitting, using a transmitter,said predetermined broadcast signal to a terminal device through asecond transmission method different from the first transmission method;and transmitting, to the terminal device through the second transmissionmethod, said predetermined additional information on more than oneoccasion during the transmission of said predetermined broadcast signal,wherein: said related data is a computer program when said broadcastsignal is video data or audio data obtained by executing said computerprogram; the broadcast signal comprises a first signal superimposed on asecond signal; a part of the first signal and a part of the secondsignal overlap in time; and the time amplitude of the part where thefirst signal and the second signal overlap is contained in theadditional information.
 52. A transmitting device comprising: means forconstructing predetermined additional information including acquiringinformation to acquire data related to a predetermined broadcast signalfrom a different source than said broadcast signal through a firsttransmission method; means for transmitting said predetermined broadcastsignal to a terminal device through a second transmission methoddifferent from the first transmission method; and means fortransmitting, to the terminal device through the second transmissionmethod, said predetermined additional information on more than oneoccasion during the transmission of said predetermined broadcast signal,wherein: said related data is a computer program when said broadcastsignal is video data or audio data obtained by executing said computerprogram; the broadcast signal comprises a first signal superimposed on asecond signal; a part of the first signal and a part of the secondsignal overlap in time; and the time amplitude of the part where thefirst signal and the second signal overlap is contained in theadditional information.
 53. A receiving method comprising: receiving,via an antenna, a predetermined broadcast signal and predeterminedadditional information through a first transmission method, thebroadcast signal comprising a first signal superimposed on a secondsignal, a part of the first signal overlapping in time a part of thesecond signal, the time amplitude of the overlapping part beingcontained in the additional information; said predetermined additionalinformation including acquiring information to acquire data related tosaid broadcast signal from a different source than said broadcast signalthrough a second transmission method different from the firsttransmission method; temporarily storing said received additionalinformation into a temporary storage; and storing said acquiringinformation disposed in said additional information temporarily storedin said temporary storage into a main storage when there is a user inputfrom an operation unit, wherein said related data is a computer programwhen said broadcast signal is video data or audio data obtained byexecuting said computer program.
 54. A receiving device comprising:means for receiving a predetermined broadcast signal and predeterminedadditional information through a first transmission method, saidpredetermined additional information including acquiring information toacquire data related to said broadcast signal from a different sourcethan said broadcast signal through a second transmission methoddifferent from the first transmission method, the broadcast signalcomprising a first signal superimposed on a second signal, a part of thefirst signal overlapping in time a part of the second signal, the timeamplitude of the overlapping part being contained in the additionalinformation; temporary storage means for temporarily storing saidreceived additional information; and acquiring information storing meansfor storing said acquiring information disposed in said additionalinformation temporarily stored in said temporary storage means into amain storage when there is a user input from an operation unit, whereinsaid related data is a computer program when said broadcast signal isvideo data or audio data obtained by executing said computer program.